This e-mail and one more to follow were sent to me by a friend opposed to
>the installation of HEETS, High Enrty Exit Turnstiles. The Metro Transit
>Authority in New York City is removing token booth collectors and replacing
>them with turnstiles that prevent blind people with large guide dogs from
>entering the stations. Wheelchair users and others will also be unable to
>enter unless they locate a staff person on the premises. Only those subways
>currently wheelchair accessible will have call buttons. Blind people of
>course would not be able to locate buttons nor would they know that someone
>identifying themselves as a transit employee necessarily really was one.
>For
>more information, please see press below and one more to follow. Lilith
>============================================================
>
>
>DISABLED RIDERS COALITION
> >>
> >>Promoting accessible transportation throughout the New York
>metropolitan
> >>area
> >>
>MEDIA RELEASE
> >>
>May 19h, 2005
> >>
> >>Contact:
> >>
> >>Michael A. Harris
> >>
> >>Telephone: 718-645-4833
> >>
> >>Mobile: 914-490-0518
> >>
> >>E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>Disabled Riders to Rail TA over Token Booth Closings
> >>
> >>Subway riders with disabilities say token booths are lifelines; won’t
>let
> >>booth clerks go quietly
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>NEW YORK, NY (MAY 19TH, 2005)- Disabled Subway riders, outraged over the
> >>New York City Transit Authority’s announcement that it will be closing
> >>eight token booths, including three accessible stations[1], next Sunday
> >>(May 22nd) spoke out at this morning’s NYC Transit Committee meeting.
>The
> >>riders argued that token booth clerks serve as lifelines to the disabled
> >>and are an essential aspect of Subway accessibility.
> >>
> >“For riders with disabilities, token booth clerks are essential. A
> >>person using a wheelchair can’t go through a regular turnstile, token
> >>booth clerks are often needed to buzz such riders through the service
> >>gate”, said Michael Harris a Brooklyn Subway rider who uses a
>wheelchair.
> >>“The situation at Canal Street (6) and World Trade Center (E) are
>perfect
> >>examples of the need for clerks” added Harris, referring to the two
> >>accessible stations that have no token booths. “I have been trapped
> >>inside of both stations for nearly an hour just trying to get out of the
> >>system,” he said.
> >>
> >>Riders who use wheelchairs aren’t the only members of the disability
> >>community outraged over the closings; blind riders are concerned as
>well.
> >>“I have a large guide dog, who can’t go through high turnstiles that
>they
> >>will be using to prevent people jumping the gates once the booths are
> >>closed.”, said Lynn Zelvin of Manhattan, who is blind and uses the
>Subway
> >>as her primary mode of transportation. “Blind and visually impaired
> >>people depend on the token booth operators for information that is
> >>otherwise only available in the form of maps and posted notices that we
> >>can't read".
> >>
> >>
> >The disability community's concern goes far beyond just access,
> >>they also see this as a safety issue. "A wandering person in a maroon
> >>jacket is useless if you can't see them. Having a stationary place where
>a
> >>rider knows that they can go for assistance is an issue of passenger
> >>safety, particularly for those of us who can’t see”, said Zelvin.
> >>
> >>The Transit Authority says that while the agents won’t be in the booths,
> >>they will be on the platforms and available to assist riders. They also
> >>add that at all stations there will be at least one booth manned 24/7.
> >>Disabled riders, said it is not enough and demanded to know exactly how
> >>the TA will meet their needs, specifically:
> >>
> >>·Without token booth clerks how will disabled riders without an AutoGate
> >>card (or when the AutoGate malfunctions [which is quite frequently]),
> >>enter or exit the Subway system?
> >>
> >>· Federal law mandates that Personal Care Attendants (PCA), when
> >>accompanying qualified people with disabilities ride at no cost; how
>will
> >>they be allowed to enter without paying a fare if there is no clerk?
> >>
> >>· How will riders with a regular reduced-fare card (as opposed
>to
> >>a reduced-fare MetroCard) receive their free return trip slip (which
>must
> >>be date stamped) without token booth clerks?
> >>
> >>“Subway accessibility should be progressing; instead riders with
> >>disabilities are seeing regression. Now in addition to Subway gaps and
> >>elevator breakdowns disabled riders will have one more obstacle to worry
> >>about.”, said Harris, who has been speaking out against the booth
>closings
> >>since they were first proposed last fall, says that what is most
> >>disturbing is that three of the eight stations chosen are accessible
> >>stations. “It is demonstrative of a blatant disregard by the Transit
> >>Authority for the needs of riders with disabilities. Disabled riders
>want
> >>to ride the rails, instead we are being railroaded by the TA”, he said.
> >>
> >>A small group of disabled riders spoke on this issue during the public
> >>comment period at Thursday’s meeting and spoke to the media both before
> >>and after the meeting. The Disabled Riders Coalition is also organizing
>a
> >>much larger press conference at Penn Station (on of the three accessible
> >>stations slated for booth closings) for Sunday, May 22nd, the day of the
> >>closings.
> >>
> >>WHO: DISABLED SUBWAY RIDERS
> >>
> >>WHAT: SPEAKING OUT AGAINST TOKEN BOOTH CLOSINGS
> >>
> >>WHEN: NYC TRANSIT COMMITTEE MEETING; MAY 19TH, 2005 @ 10AM
> >>
> >WHERE: MTA HEADQUARTERS, 347 MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK, NY
> >>
> >>DISABLED RIDERS ENCOURAGE MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA TO RIDE THE SYSTEM WITH
> >>THEM IN ORDER TO DEMONSTRATE THE ESSENTIAL ROLE THAT TOKEN BOOTH CLERKS
> >>PLAY IN THEIR ABILITY TO INDEPENDENTLY ACCESS THE SYSTEM.
> >>
>
> >>[1] 14th Street – Union Square (N,Q,R,W,L), 34th Street – Herald Square
> >>(B,D,F,V,N,Q,R,W) and 34th Street – 8th Avenue (A,C,E)
> >>
> >>
> >>Michael A. Harris
> >>Chair
> >>New York State Young Democrats, Disability Issues Caucus
> >>Campaign Coordinator
> >>Disabled Riders Coalition
> >>Telephone: (718) 645-4833
> >>Fax: (718) 645-4774
> >>Mobile: (914) 490-0518
> >>E-mail: <mailto:[log in to unmask]>[log in to unmask]
> >>
> >>
> >>Help build the Network in 2005-2006, and increase civic participation of
> >>people with disabilities in NYC. Get your friends and associates
>involved.
> >>Visit www.dnnyc.net for more info, to join or renew membership, or call
> >>212-251-4071 (Alexander Wood) or 212-251-4092 (Lawrence Carter-Long).
________________End of message______________________
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